transportation

We will be staying at the base2stay kensington and need transportation to the cruise port in Southampton. We will then need transportation from Southampton port to the Eurostar in London to go to Paris. We did get rail passes through your website for Eurostar, but are wondering what is the best way, and cheapest to go to and from Southampton. Your help would be appreciated. Barb Smith

You'd have to take a taxi over to the Southaampton Central train station. Trains run pretty much every half hour to London Waterloo. Takes about 1hr 20 mins. Then you'd get into the regular London Subway system to get to Kensington. See: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

As David says, taxi to and from the port is best. Going back to Southampton Central, tell your driver you want the London side of the station, if he doesn't ask. I commute on that line a couple of days a week. I'm usually on the train that leaves Southampton at 07.30, and it is normally pretty full. Reservations are not possible, so if you want to sit together then you should travel later. Waterloo to Kings Cross St. Pancras involves one change on the Tube. DO NOT attempt this journey before about 09.30 on a weekday morning, especially with luggage. The Bakerloo line in particular is crammed at that time.

"We did get railpasses through your website for Eurostar. ." Barb, can you explain what you mean by this? The Eurostar is not covered by any pass, although there are discounts for certain railpass holders. You need to purchase the tickets ( with or without the passholder discount) from Eurostar.

Thank you all for your responses; David, Kevin and Lola. We did purchase tickets to Paris for seniors at $65 each. Happy with that. The taxi to Southampton to Central train station is something we did not know about. You all have been a great help. Barb